Maya wasn’t tired of stewing even after an hour after her father left to go up to the palace. It was as though his appearance brought all the feelings she had for him over the last six years. And not many of them were good.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡHriIlFOQjc

Eventually, she couldn’t stand sitting around and was about to leave the room when she heard a commotion outside on the streets. She opened the window and looked out, but there wasn’t anything below. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVYuuZiKQn

But further away, a group on the road was approaching. Wagons rattled as they were pulled along by horses. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3tatEdz1U

The crowd itself was silent, as were the people on horseback passing through. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJlirHYfyi

Most of the Enzlans were still going on about their business but those who saw the men and women on horseback stopped what they were doing and stared. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡswdq1Ipjsg

Enzlan Guards surrounded the unknown group but they acted more like guides than captors. Maya sucked in a breath when she saw who those being guided were. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKjaUNO7mQ

Icians.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mAmF14DhC

They had discarded their thick cloaks and were stripped down to thin layers of clothing to suit Enzla’s climate. More of their pale skin showed and their white-blond hair was entirely exposed. At their sides were swords. Clearly they weren’t to be unarmed.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJ89a9RAtj

Maya ran down the stairs and saw that the inn’s tavern was empty. Standing in front of the inn were their day time customers and Janice. “What’s going on? Why are there Icians on the street?”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡQa4akYX96k

“Is he here to do something about the rogues?” Maya asked. The Icians were passing their inn now. She couldn’t figure out who Prince Yoran was at first. All of them were dressed in simple tunics and pants. All of them had a sword. All of them were on horseback. None of them were dressed more extravagantly than the other, though they all had some piece of jewellery. And none of them looked weak. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWDj6NtXnX

The Icians were calm, considering the crowd that they were gathering. They didn’t smile but they also didn’t seem hostile. Their eyes roamed the crowd, meeting the eyes of people who stared at them. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe8loskmCq

When the eyes skimmed over Maya, she saw that they had grey eyes. She saw a range of grey eyes from those that looked light blue to those that looked black.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCynd2KPBK

She couldn’t decide whether Prince Yoran was the man in the centre of the first row or if he were one of the men in the centre of the Icians. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMHl6N8ALw

When half of the Icians passed, she stared hard at the men, starting to get really curious. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2KGo99IvL

Maya shook her head inwardly. I’ve never seen so much blond hair at once!copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡ499LufyDQk

And then a man turned his head to look directly at her. She must have overlooked him during her first examination because he was just like all the rest. His light grey eyes showed no emotion at all as he stared back at her. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡaonU5L3euz

When he turned, the man and woman on either side of him also turned to stare at what caught the man’s attention. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EKplk15Ds

Maya quickly looked away in shock. When she looked again, the man’s attention and those around him were concentrated on the front, already forgetting their short moment of eye contact. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIBAt6Q2KH

A heavy hand gripped her shoulder and pulled her back into the inn. Janice stumbled when Gerald caught his daughter’s shoulder in his other hand. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡmU6JPbvTq0

“What is it?” Maya asked. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrEdQ0xS5a

“Time to get back to work,” Gerald replied. “We’ve spent enough time gawking at nobility.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxTW8n3ZpN

Janice and Maya rolled their eyes. “Gerald, you’re the one who has seen enough of them to last a life time. You used to be an instructor at the Margins, right? You’ve seen plenty of nobles! Not us.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMHMwxY2qo

“You’ll see them plenty yourself when you move into the palace,” Gerald said with a smirk. “You’ll be sick of them in a month’s time.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SPH5GHCyN

“I’m not going to the palace!”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSkGPt3Sst

Gerald sighed. “Maya, what would you do otherwise? You belong to your family.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8gnVMUTOk

“I’ll stay here! I can work for you,” Maya said. “I don’t want to stay in the palace!”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRd7ziOhVm

Gerald shrugged. “You’re going to have to ask him about that.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3mgcn5pgo

“Maya, you should go.” Janice wrapped an arm around Maya. “You deserve time with your father. Make him owe you that time. He has six years to make up for, after all.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuDlb68gyQ

“He’ll never make up for lost time,” Maya muttered. “It’s gone. I’ve grown up. I don’t need him.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQNzNce1np

“Of course you do,” Gerald barked out. Maya started. Gerald rarely raised his voice. He crossed his arms and gave her a stern look. “At the end of the day, family is all we have. Blood family or sworn family, we are all in this together. Why do you think Leal’s betrayal hit the queen so hard? A duke’s son betrayed his own country for Icians.” Gerald spat the word out. “We place our trust in our family, hoping that they will trust us in turn. We fight for them. We die for them. But most of all, we live for them.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡMet9vFwB4N

Maya balled her hands into fists. “That is all fine and good. I agree with you. I just can’t bring myself to think that way,” she said steadily.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDhDZsJ8Ii

Gerald relaxed. “It doesn’t have to happen right now. I just wanted you to hear it. Now, enough of this. I’ve retired from the Margins so I try not to spout out speeches of loyalty too often. Let’s get to work.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡYl8LVWY9Xm

Maya laughed along with Janice at Gerald’s words and gave the old man a hug. “Thank you, Gerald. I’ll try to remember what you said.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKA2T6HqHL

She collected the empty dishes and bowls, conversed with the men and women who came by, and occasionally took care of the children who came with their families. She neatened rooms for the next guest, washed the dishes, and tossed out two boys her age who were fighting over the pretty girl standing helplessly to the side.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGpukoW3wF

“Wouldn’t you rather have a sweetheart who’s reasonable?” Maya asked the girl as they stood outside watching the boys pick themselves off the ground. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡlv1uhWqf5o

The boys gave her a weary look and then glanced at each other. It seemed like they understood how bad they looked to the girl.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFHza1Y75v

“Maya.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq0NViKlxP

Maya turned and gave her father a frown. “That was fast,” she said. “Weren’t you going to be gone for a year or so?”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9uTmbVFzo

Marcus’ face was blank and he didn’t show signs of hearing her. He only watched her, as though considering something.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡGK3njepilu

The girl looked at them. Feeling the animosity coming from Maya, the girl slowly retreated with her two boys. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7VOVQ6FcE

He walked up to her. “I’ve decided. We won’t be staying in the palace. I’ll find somewhere in the city to live. We could live close to Gerald and Janice if that is what you prefer. You could continue to work for them, or take up an apprenticeship for whatever interests you. Do you still like the theatre—?”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWO0QbbLQL

Maya interrupted before her father could continue. “Wait. Why aren’t we staying in the palace?” It wasn’t that she wanted to bask in the glory of living in the palace, but she always curious about how it looked inside.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxveUPsj7N

Marcus shrugged. “I don’t think it’s a good place to live anymore. You’ll be away from your friends and you probably won’t be comfortable. There are too many rules and too many toes to avoid stepping on. If you aren’t used to that life, it can be stressful.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVVIKQzRwL

Maya snorted. “I’d like to see them try to make me hide in my room. And you don’t get to decide what’s too stressful for me.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1Ik1yvdkm

“You didn’t want to go there this morning,” Marcus said with a frown. “Now you won’t need to. We can live in the city instead.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvTuJOkb7s

Maya examined her father, trying not to stare too much. But still, her gaze lingered on the face she could only vaguely remember. Right now, his eyes and face were still blank to her. She wished that she could hide her emotions so easily. “Why did you change your mind?” she asked slowly. He blinked but didn’t look away. “Did something happen?”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVoUE8KeZh

Marcus finally closed his eyes with a soft groan. “You’re so perceptive. Why couldn’t you have just agreed?”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvjIQlhmyC

Maya inwardly cheered at the complement but crossed her arms over her chest and gave him an expectant look. “I’ve decided. I’d like to stay in the palace.” Her father placed his hands to his hips and looked up at the sky. Maya wasn’t sure if he was asking their ancestors why he had such a stubborn child or if he was looking for rain clouds.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡIx7C2Qqm1y

“Never mind,” she said with a sigh. “Should I start packing?”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMH6oJWP6Y

“Yes. We might as well go. I should buy you some new clothes.” And here, he hesitated. “What do you like to wear?”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUZS7U1sAo

Maya looked down at her old dress, the one she wore when helping around the inn. She didn’t know what the original colour was but it was now so faded that it looked white. It was short sleeved and reached her knees, which was good in the summer heat. It was sturdy and lasted her until now. But it was also plain, old, and not as soft or light as the dresses she saw other girls wear.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxLEORlpep

She looked at her father, who was still waiting for an answer. “Are you really going to buy it for me?” she demanded.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdbhkA0gp6

“Of course. I said I would, didn’t I?”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN1fG9aHBL

That decided it. “Then follow me. You could start making up for lost birthday presents.” Maya turned on her heels and made her way up the street. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pjR37IpxX

Marcus followed quietly and quickly. He made sure that he didn’t let the crowd separate them and nearly grabbed her when a group of boisterous young men and women weren’t paying attention to where they were walking. But Maya stepped to the side fast enough to avoid being pushed over and Marcus retracted his hand before she could see it. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7aZouApLZ

He didn’t know her long, but understood that she wouldn’t have liked the unnecessary help.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1NyhtHsbi

He thought back to the young girl whom he carried in his arms when they went out in the evening to watch plays that the Buttercup Company performed. She laughed and clapped whenever the bear in The Buried Flower appeared. She squealed and every time without fail, she tried to grab the actor’s hair while shouting, “Flower bear!”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhIw8LERbb

Marcus laughed at the memory and caused Maya to look at him. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZiZZHuz6g

“What are you laughing about?” she asked. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡzChnazQR12

“I’m thinking back to the bear in The Buried Flower. Do you remember the play?”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡaejSLsEpjP

“They stopped performing that one four years ago,” Maya replied flatly. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8PT8OACoG

Marcus stopped in his tracks, ignoring the angry shouts from the man behind him. “Why?”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXjakuJbmK

His legs started to move automatically but he was still stunned. They always played The Buried Flower. They played it before he knew about the Buttercup Company and they were still playing it before he left. The play always attracted a large crowd. There was no way they would stop if they could make a profit.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡULrJEzyfbW

Maya sneaked a look at her father who was suddenly quiet after she answered him thoughtlessly. The Buried Flower was a great play. She didn’t disagree. But she didn’t expect that reaction…a memory floated up to her mind. She was five and half asleep in her mother’s arms. Her father had his arm around her mother and the three of them were walking home from the evening play of The Buried Flower. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4UgeeKXp6

“Da,” she had asked him. “Why do you like flower bear so much?”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDDIa4t88E

He had laughed and tickled her chin. She had giggled and turned her face into her mother’s shoulder to avoid his fingers. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3pSN4smkD

“It goes way back,” he had said. “It helped me get through a really hard time when I was younger. I’d even go so far as to say it had a part in saving my life from myself.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡigHcwWrhUR

Maya sucked in a breath and gave her father a proper look. His attention was on the crowd and the buildings on the street. He kept scanning their surroundings carefully. If he was still upset about the play being cancelled, he hid it well.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDu1lE6PNf

The woman behind the counter looked up from her accounts. “Maya, dear! You’ve finally come back to visit me!”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMoMOKrUAe

Maya blushed. “Um…hello, Frenna.” When she first came to visit with Janice, she didn’t know how to react to the woman who treated her so friendly. But she had learned to shrug it off. The woman was in her sixties and had a husband who helped make the fabrics they sold. Their children were all grown up and their grandchildren came around to help sometimes. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94tsZByYb1

Frenna was, overall, a very friendly woman who cared about her customers. But if her customers treated their clothing badly, she was an entirely different woman.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpNSkLZcbn

Frenna’s eyes quickly darted to Marcus to greet him quickly before returning to Maya. When she saw him though, her mouth opened in a shocked scream and she ran around the counter. Alarmed, Maya stepped away from Frenna. Frenna barrelled passed her and hugged Marcus. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡYt9nfX8GSI

“Marcus! Thank the ‘sters you’re back! Where have you been all this time? I was so worried about you and Aldene and my husband! I thought I was going to lose everything! Both of you and my husband, all together!”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1NptN02Lc

Frenna jumped back and wiped her tears. “Oh, look at me. I’m a mess. ‘Scuse me, Marcus. I have no idea what came over me.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8hrvwoDdg

“Sit down, tell me what happened,” Marcus said. He set his bag down next to the counter and Frenna went to take her seat on the other side of the counter.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8iaxMXyOI

“It’s terrible. My husband, you’ve met him. A few years ago, he started to get really sick. We’ve seen a city healer and the man was able to help him but only for a short while. My husband is sick with something in his mind and the city healer doesn’t have the energy to spare to heal him fully. If the healer tried, my husband might survive, but the healer would definitely be dead from exhaustion.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSLnJHklBu

“So we go to the healer every month to help keep my husband alive. The other city healers said that they couldn’t do any better than what was already done. Apparently it’s a delicate healing. None of the other healers from other cities are willing to come, considering I could barely afford them. I would be fine with what our city healer could do to help, but I can’t keep paying for the healing. At this rate, my husband and I will be on the streets in half a year.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSCrj7YILb

Maya was shocked to hear Frenna’s admission. She had no idea the woman was going through so much in her life. Whenever Maya visited, Frenna was a bubble of laughs and always helped her find what she needed. But maybe that was Frenna’s way of hiding it.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7kiiR4fqT

“I thought for sure, if that boy Marcus was here, he could definitely heal my husband. But when I went to look for you, you were gone! Your house had burned down—”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbLKzvrUQ3

“What?” Maya whispered in shock. Marcus glanced at her quickly and turned back to Frenna. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1W0sf8qYT

“—and I couldn’t find Ballas. Gerald didn’t know where you were. I went as far as the Healer’s Den, but someone said you and Aldene had been missing for over three years and by all rights, you two should be dead! No one could get through the passage to where you were supposed to go. No messages were coming in or out. Magic was blocked. No one could tell me what was going on.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY1WgkOlzf

“How did you know about the messages and magic?” Marcus asked quietly. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyr0j0vLUm

Frenna swallowed and said nervously, “I was desperate, so I stayed in the Den. I…over heard people talking about it.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjnKjQ0sgZ

Marcus blew out a breath. “They must have tried to get through to me. Healers aren’t exactly the most careful people about where they discuss private matters.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTXnQeHFzh

“I’m sorry, but I had to find out where you were. I was desperate,” Frenna said. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOQlO9mkUh

Frenna paused and considered the years she had been waiting for them to return. “My…you have been gone for quite a while.” Frenna shook her head. “Go on, Marcus. I will help Maya with what she needs.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gqSsZkOC1

Frenna’s smile widened and she took Maya’s hand in hers. “That is such a treat. You know how I enjoy creating beauty.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJF6WXpBfw

Marcus picked up his bag. “I’ll get to it then. Let’s see who could finish their work faster, hm, Frenna?”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgM38f3t3F

Frenna laughed. “Oh, lad, are you trying to race an old lady?”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡubAHFZBuSD

Marcus went around the back of the shop and they heard him climbing the stairs. Frenna wiped a last tear and guided Maya to a clear area of the shop. “You’ve grown since the last time you were here,” Frenna said cheerfully. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡGummBij1Uz

“You mean Marcus?” Freena eyed Maya and nodded to herself. “Mm. You’ve grown taller and have some curves in the right places. Yes, I knew your father since he was a lad. He and dear Aldene were always together. I remember her dragging him in here to fit him with something for a special day. I believe her family was coming by to visit. Poor lad looked pale and excited.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVPUDvUfZM

Maya giggled and wished she knew that Frenna had stories of her parents. She already grilled Gerald about all that he knew in the first two years of living with him.copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGge3SxnTr

“How are you doing with your father?” Frenna asked as she pulled out a light blue fabric. “Do you like this colour, lass?”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrYMMzKmdb

“It’s pretty. And I’m still not forgiving them for staying away for almost ten years. Everyone tells me that I should just forgive them and let them love me. How can I, Frenna, when they’ve been gone for so long? I don’t even know them anymore.” Maya heard herself starting to sound desperate and hated herself for it. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡZx7PsKlm0k

Frenna came back with the roll of cloth and set it on her worktable. She held Maya’s hands and listened. copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8S1p74hFsb

“I’ve felt so alone all these years. Janice had her father with her, even though her mother is dead. The other people I know have their own parents or at least know what happened to them. The only people I thought I could relate to were orphans. Orphans. And they scorned. They said I should be lucky that my parents are still alive. But are they alive? It didn’t feel like they were alive, with how they were gone. I was six when they left for a mission that was only supposed to last a year or two. It took six years for just one of my parents to return. I could barely remember their faces!”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pD5bpEWLS

“It will come back to you,” Frenna said. “Take all the time you need. I should really give Marcus and Aldene an earful for leaving you on your own. Don’t you worry about it. They know just how hurt you are. Everything will turn out fine.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LqfBS0Wf0

Maya frowned and scrubbed the tears from her eyes. She glared at the ceiling. “I’ll try to remember that.”copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnTiN1n5GQ